VAN BUREN — Leaders in Crawford County have approved a ballot measure calling for a sales-tax increase to pay for a new $20 million county jail.

The Crawford County Quorum Court voted Monday to ask voters to approve a 75 cent sales tax increase to fund the new detention center. The proposal calls for a temporary 50 cent tax to pay for land and construction costs and a permanent 0.25-percent tax to pay for operations and maintenance.

According to the Southwest Times Record, the measure will go before voters on the May 20 primary election ballot.

The new jail would replace the current 88-bed detention center, which has repeatedly failed state inspections because of overcrowding issues.